A question about trace elements

[Mabyboi]

Hey guys,

I currently have a 24 gallon cube with some new SPS frags in there, some montipora, some acropora, some birds nest, stylophora and chalice.

I currently use the Red sea pro salt, keeping my magnesium above 1400, calcium above 400-450, and alkalinity around 7.8-8.0. The only testing kit I have shows 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 0 phosphates. (They're basic tests)

I do weekly 5 gallon water changes, and keep my salinity around 1.025-1.026 (only gets to 1.026 with evaporation).

I want to make sure my corals are at their most colourful and growing as best they can, I've heard a lot of people talking about dosing with trace elements, and a fair bit about only dosing based on calcium consumption.

I'm currently not at a point where I need to dose calcium through the week as my water changes are able to keep up with its consumption. Either way, I've been told to look into trace element dosing, such as strontium, potassium and iodine.

I've heard a lot of great things about the Red Sea Coral Colors program, and its ability to dose all the necessary trace elements, however their dosing system is based on calcium consumption.

I want to hear from you guys, IF at this point I should be looking at the trace element dosing programs. (I don't have a problem with paying for them) And if so, which programs I should be looking at?

Thanks guys!

 

[Peter Eichler]

When it comes to elements, you don't need to do anything other than maintain calcium, alkalinity. I'd be seriously skeptical of any advice you get from the person telling you that you need to dose strontium and trace elements.

Also, the coral colors program is completely lacking in any scientific data or proof to their claims about colors and elements, it's just another copycat of another unnecessary program. Red Sea claims to have done all this R&D on this program yet they don't seem to have one shred of evidence that the elements do what they claim they do. Not even some decent annecdotal evidence.

 

[toothman]

Peter makes good points. I have used faunna marin 3 bottle system in my ca and bicarbonate dosing for a year. It has the stronthium, iodine iron, etc in the bottles. I really do not know if it is doing anything. It is not very expensive to use and the bottles last a long time, for me the bottles last about a year. My corals do have very good color however, so I will continue to use it hoping it does something. I have not used the faunna marin color enhansing supplements, 3 of them. I always like messing around with my reef so there is a good chance I will try the supplemens to see what happens.

For me good color comes from actively growing corals as a result of water parameters, light, food: that seems to easy.

 

[trueblackpercula]

well its nice to know that you are doing your home work and trying everything to keep SPS Its great that you do water changes on your tank weekly. The addition to your water of trace elements will be determined by the amount of sps you keep and there growth.

You will be fine with water changes until the demand starts to supersede what you can supply with just water changes.

you see once the system is stable and your sps start to growing in such a small tank of 24 gallons it will become very difficult for you to keep up with the demand of your sps.


At this point you probably will not need any addition of trace elements but down the road a year or two is when they start competing and fighting for all your nutrients,trace elements food and space ETC.

I would hold off as you will not need them at this point.

good luck and post some pictures

 

[Mabyboi]

Thanks for the replies guys!

This tank will only be temporary until the significant other lets me get a 90 gal cube.. Which will be in the next year or two.

If you guys aren't supplementing trace elements, do you dose anything?

I'll get some tank shots up this week, my light fixture I just hung is 1" off, I want it cantered before I show anyone!

 

[Mabyboi]

I should have added that I'm also using an aquamaxx HOB-1 protein skimmer and chaeto algae in the sump if my nano cube. Someone said this is "too much" filtration?

 

[SantaMonica]

You should look at the trace elements of the food you feed, and in your case (since you have chaeto), the trace elements that algae put into the water, such as Vitamin C, Amino's, etc. There are hundreds. Once day I'll post a list of them.

 

[Mabyboi]

You should look at the trace elements of the food you feed, and in your case (since you have chaeto), the trace elements that algae put into the water, such as Vitamin C, Amino's, etc. There are hundreds. Once day I'll post a list of them.

The food I'm putting in currently is just basic pellets for my clowns, they're the only 2 fish in the tank.

And for coral food I currently have reef roids, I tried using the coral smoothie stuff but my corals didn't respond to it. Any suggestions food wise for corals?

 

[trueblackpercula]

The food I'm putting in currently is just basic pellets for my clowns, they're the only 2 fish in the tank.

And for coral food I currently have reef roids, I tried using the coral smoothie stuff but my corals didn't respond to it. Any suggestions food wise for corals?

Try Coral V power it's amazing.

 

[SantaMonica]

Almost all food is loaded with traces. The shape of the food, however, and how fast it absorbs water, it what helps it to feed fish or corals better.